Tag Archives: craft

Crystal Allen and Karen Bannister joined forces to create Hello Creative Family, an online magazine for parents looking to ignite their creative passion. They want other parents to live, love and teach the handmade, homemade and heart-made lifestyle. As fans of Vancouver Mini Maker Faire, we asked them to partner with us as a Blog Ambassador and they have been sharing about how families should consider making.

What inspires you about the project, Hello Creative Family?
Karen: We love learning what inspires people to do what they do, and where that creative juice comes from. we were both raised in creative households watching our parents spend their free time working on creative projects. Crystal says, “the greatest compliment you can pay me is that I, or my children are creative.” The idea that we may inspire parents to get creative again and raise their kids in a creative home is the thing that excites us the most about Hello Creative Family.

Barbara Borchardt is the creator of ILiveInEastVan, a blog that highlights the art, food, culture, and community of East Vancouver. As a fan of Vancouver Mini Maker Faire, we asked Barbara to partner with us as a Blog Ambassador and she is writing about the awesome Maker community that surrounds our home grounds, the PNE Forum.

Your write about East Van in your blog ILiveInEastVan. What inspires you about this project?
I grew up in East Vancouver and love the culture, community and diversity within this area. I tried on a few different areas of the Lower Mainland in my early 20s, but didn’t find the same sense of community living in other areas. East Van has been considered to be more ‘working class’ and I have over the years found myself defending East Van as a choice of where to live. I think East Van has so much to offer and is an evolving area. I enjoy showcasing all the things that make it a great place to live and work.

Maker Heike Kapp is an artist of the truest sense. If you have been to Vancouver Mini Maker Faire in the past, you might remember her amazing glass marbles. Since then, Heike has shifted focus to her found-object sculptures that incorporate driftwood, photo transfers, flameworked glass and wire-work into what she calls Sea Creatures. We spoke with Heike about her shift in project, her creative process and how she stays inspired as a Maker.

Photo Credit: Joshua McVeity

Have you always been a Maker?
I feel I was born a maker. My parents were makers before that was even a term, so I think it’s in my blood. My earliest memory is making a water wheel with my Opa, in the Bavarian Alps, with his trusty Swiss Army knife (which I still own).

Lisa Corriveau created the blog Spokesmama as a place to write about life, family, DIY projects, cycling, and engaging in her community. As a fan of Vancouver Mini Maker Faire, we invited her to partner with us this year as a Blog Ambassador, and she has been writing about her interest in the Maker community.

You write about cycling, DIY and parenting on your blog Spokesmama. What inspires you about this project?I love doing things myself, from sewing clothing, to making my own deodorant, to biking as my main form of transportation. There’s something really satisfying about making something with your own hands & getting yourself around using your body. I love to share what I’ve learned with other people & I hope to inspire other families to ride bikes more often.